Looking for a .223 Bolt Action

[Plumber576]

Here is the deal. My sister wants to get her fiance a wedding present, when they get married on June 20th (and have it engraved all special-like). I am the best man, and I know guns, so I am trying to arrange this for my sister.

He really wants a bolt action .223 rifle. This is not meant to be a caliber discussion, I am just a facilitator. Including a scope, it must cost no more than $800. I would like to see a Harris bipod in that price...and possibly engraved.

So, what should I be looking at? Scope, mount, and rifle included. This is not not meant to be tactical at all, simply a hunting type rifle, preferrably a wood stock. Also, I have been quite partial to Leupold scopes.

Sum it up, best possible rifle and scope for $800. Thanks!

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

For $800, scope included (Leupold) and engraving costs and possible bipod...


That's going to be tough to do.


Savage is a good place to start, and also their Stevens line.


They also have 1/9 twists which allow the shooting of heavier bullets if that matters....

 

[Simple Man]

Having owned most of your common makes and models, my advice is to get him the CZ 527. These are the very best rifle out for the money in my opinion. The have a set trigger that is awesome and some have beautiful wood. The rifle will run you around $500. I own the CZ 527 in .223 and it is an awesome rifle. Read a little about the CZ line of rifles and I'm sure you will be impressed. Here is a link to CZ 527
http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=10

Next in line for me would be a Tikka T3 Hunter. They are also a wonderful rifle and have have a very sweet trigger that is adjustable down to 2# in just a couple of minutes. Tikka rifles roll off the same lines as the Sako rifles do and share the same barrels. Great rifles and will run you around $550.
http://www.berettausa.com/product/spotlight/spotlight_hunting_rifle_tikka.cfm

In my honest opinion CZ and Tikka is the best bang for your buck out today.

Oh, and I think Nikon is offering a lot of scope for the money or they are having nice sales on the Burris FF2.

 

[RNB65]

CZ 527

 

[rbernie]

The CZ is a good choice for an all-around 'special' rifle, a combination of both good-looking and functional. But if it's going to be a mostly-benchrest kind of tool and the guy's into more tacticool kinda stuff, I'd also suggest looking into a Savage 10FP.

I'd also suggest a Leupold VXII or Sightron SII as the best moderately-expensive all purpose scopes to look at; Natchez Shooters Supply has the SIIs on sale right now.

 

[Essex County]

I own a CZ 527 , A heavy bbl. Savage in .223 and the Tikka in 22-250. All are fine but the CZ is the handiess of them all. The wood on mine is pretty good also.......Essex

 

[Sir Aardvark]

Yep, get a CZ 527.

It is about the best .223 bolt action you can get for the cost.

Check out the following links to get more info about this rifle; the Shooting Times review is very good:

http://www.icehouse.net/no7up/cz527ascope.html

http://www.shootingtimes.com/longgun_reviews/cz_0728/

 

[MD_Willington]

+1 for CZ

I'll throw in HOWA, you should be able to find something in the price range...

Check this out:
http://www.snipercentral.com/howa.htm

 

[bb21]

Howa

I would suggest a Howa Varmint, you should be able to get the stainless with a synthetic stock for $531.96 or Blued with a laminate stock for $527.96, or blued synthetic stock for $398.98 at Wal Mart. Howa's are made in Japan, my understanding is they are made in the same plant Weatherbys are made in. Wal Mart Also sells the CZ's. Then I would order a Burris Fullfield II, the Ballistic Plex,4.5-16X42 with free spotting scope from Natchez shooter supply, $317, an excellent scope.
The blued synthetic with the scope puts you at $717.98, tax and a Bipod will put it close to the $800 mark.
For me the Heavy barrel .223's are a blast to shoot, very accurate, and the barrel doesn't heat up too fast.
Hope this helps, Good Luck!


natchezss.com
walmart.com

 

[Simple Man]

If your looking for a hunting rifle then I would consider the sporter barrel instead of a varmint rifle - the heavy bull barrel isn't fun to carry around in the field.

Another option would be to buy or build an AR-15. These are excellent hunting or plinking rifles, can shoot the e.223 and can be had for not much over $600. The last two I built for myself I had $650 in each. You can buy a complete new AR-15 for around that same price too.

 

[Savageshooter]

Stevens 223

Boyds Varmit Stock - Bedded, Pillared and Floated
SSS Competition Trigger
Tactical Bolt Handle

About $450.00

Made in USA

Shoots tight tight tight groups

 

[mustanger98]

I like my Savage 11GL, so I recommend if he's right-handed go with the 11G. Mine's a .243Winchester, but they come in .223 too. I got mine for a good bit under Suggested Retail back when they still had sights on the barrel.

Model 11G – with AccuTrigger™
(Model 11GCNS shown above)
Action Short
Caliber 223 Rem, 22-250 Rem, 243 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, 308 Win, 270 WSM, 300 WSM
Overall Length 42.5" (223 Rem, 22-250 Rem, 243 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, 308 Win)
44.5" (270 WSM, 300 WSM)
Barrel Length 22" (223 Rem, 22-250 Rem, 243 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, 308 Win)
24" (270 WSM, 300 WSM)
Weight 6.75 lbs (223 Rem, 22-250 Rem, 243 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, 308 Win)
7 lbs(270 WSM, 300 WSM)
Magazine Capacity 4 rounds (223 Rem, 22-250 Rem, 243 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, 308 Win)
2 rounds (270 WSM, 300 WSM)
Stock Walnut finished hardwood with cut checkering
Sights Adjustable rear/bead front. Drilled and tapped for scope mounts
Rifling Rate of Twist 223 Rem (1 in 9")
22-250 Rem (1 in 12")
243 Win (1 in 9.25")
7mm-08 Rem(1 in 9.5")
308 Win, 300 WSM (1 in 10")
270 WSM (1 in 11")
Features AccuTriggerTM, blued barreled action, free-floating and button-rifled barrel, internal box magazine, and swivel studs.
Suggested Retail $515.00

 

[rangerruck]

I think you can get a real nice Savage long bbl, 24 or 26 inch, with a very good scope, and bipod for that money. Have a very nicely accurate rifle to boot.
What you do is go to a gunstore, and ask to look at their huge , full size Savage catalog, and look at the barreled actions that will use a 24 inch or longer bbl, then put the stokc you want around it, synth or wood. then ask the store to order it. Gander mountain will do this for you.

 

[45crittergitter]

+1 on the T3.

 

[byf43]

A guy at my sportsman's club just sold a Remington 700 Varmint in .223 for $400, and it had a laminated stock and Leupold mount and rings on it.


Like a fool, I didn't get it.


For $800 (including engraving) go for the Savage. Hope you have someone that's good, but inexpensive, to engrave the rifle.

 

[redranger1]

Get a CZ. Fit and finish on a CZ is much better and more elegant then a Savage.

 

[gunfire876]

can't go wrong

I own a savage great gun for the money, Howa another great buy, Tikka which is my deer gun of choice right now, CZ is awesome with the single set trigger. So it really depends on what kind of shooting he does. Tikka comes with rings so there's a deal. The only thing is the engraving. I love all kinds of guns and I am not a gun snob but you can't engrave just any gun. I say don't do the engraving and spend more money on the glass.Good luck though Check out our website if you want Budsgunshop.com

 

[mr.trooper]

Savage or Tikka; maybee a CZ. There is NO reason to spend the money on anything else; any other factory rifle will only be inferior and more expensive. You will have to go custom build to beat them.

 

[sumoj275]

CZ 527 definetly, my most favorite firearm manufacturer now!

 

[CZ223]

Savage

Savage Savage Savage Savage Savage Savage. That is how many I have of them. Oh by the way, did I mention Savage?

 

[toivo]

Savage Savage Savage Savage Savage Savage. That is how many I have of them. Oh by the way, did I mention Savage?

So how do you explain your username?

 

[rockstar.esq]

So I'd say the Savages perform great for their price however they aren't what I'd call gorgeously stocked, finished, or polished. From what I've seen of the CZ's I'd agree that they do make an attractive and wonderfully functional rifle. Perhaps the engraving could be limited in scope. One idea that comes to me is to have just the area of the bolt visible when the action is closed engraved.
Failing that I'd recommend the Remington imported Mini Mauser and have the floor plate engraved (provided it's metal). Frankly I'd hold off on the Harris bi-pod as I think they aren't any better than the Rock Mount which cost 20% less, plus a bipod isn't aesthetically amazing whereas a good Nikon scope is.

The post above indicating that Tikka shares barrels with Sako is not true. The Tikka barrels ARE NOT THE SAME. Different number of grooves etc.

Plus Tikka's are all long actions with blocks in them to chamber short cartridges. For the .223 that's just annoying.

 

[Plumber576]

Any opinons on the Browning A-Bolt? I might be able to pick one up for a song, NIB...

 

[Chuck S]

Add me to the list...

...of folks wanting a .223 (5.56mm) bolt action carbine. No bull barrels.

Problem is I want one with a fairly tight rifling twist (1/9 or 1/7) to match the ballistics of military issue ammunition.

And I want one with receiver, not barrel mounted iron sights. Provision for scope rings isn't even on the priority list.

Anyone know of such a critter?

-- Chuck

 

[Badkharma]

You can get a nice classy laminate HOWA Supreme in .223 with a scope and bipod easy for under $800............